Diver Dennis:I don't think that anyone has been saying TTL is the only way to go but you seem to have a real hate on for it. If you don't like TTL, don't use it.
Where did I say I HATE TTL???? TTL was a tool for film cameras like the Nikonos and some film SLRs. Works great on film I have REAL experience with both the Nikonos and film SLRs TTL system on land and underwater, in fact the Nikonos 5 with a close up framer plus a Nikonos TTL strobe is tough to beat for underwater use.
The framer works great for pinning the fish against the reef for those close up in your face shots and the TTL system, when used in the stated conditions, is right on target with adjustments that perform with predictable results.
Now prove that TTL in DIGITAL works in land or U/W as they failed to do in this test:
http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15589
All the exposures at the stated aperture openings should be the same as they did with true TTL when I last tested my system, it is not suppose to go from over expose to the correct exposure when the aperture opening is changed.